Princess Catherine’s is renowned around the globe for her iconic wardrobe. Over the years, it has become one of the defining features of her royal role, but according to a former royal adviser, there was one outfit Prince William thought completely missed the mark.

From diplomatic dressing on overseas tours to showcasing the very best of British fashion, the Princess of Wales 44, is now widely regarded as one of the Royal Family’s best dressed. However, according to an adviser, according to The Times, Catherine’s wardrobe did not come together overnight, with one early purchase prompting a memorable reaction from her husband.

According to the source, before the Prince and Princess fully embraced the demands of life as senior working royals; they shared a light-hearted exchange over one of Catherine’s fashion choices.

They said: “Before Kate realised that as a senior royal you have to dress carefully, having taken advice, she once bought an outfit that William considered inappropriate.”

The adviser continued: “He told Kate she looked as if she’d just run through a charity shop covered in superglue. Everyone thought this was very funny, including, to her credit, Kate.”

The outfit in question was never identified, but the anecdote offers a glimpse into Catherine’s gradual evolution from private citizen to one of the world’s most closely watched royal dressers.

Long before joining the Royal Family, Catherine experimented with a very different style while studying at the University of St Andrews, where she first met Prince William.

One of her most memorable early fashion moments came in 2002, when she walked a student charity fashion show wearing a sheer Charlotte Todd skirt styled as a dress – an appearance widely credited with catching William’s attention.

Several years later, in 2008, Catherine embraced a bolder look once again, attending a charity roller disco in a green sequinned halterneck top paired with neon yellow hot pants, bright pink leg warmers and knee-high heeled boots.

By the time she announced her engagement to Prince William in 2010, however, her style had already begun to evolve.

Since then, the Princess has built a reputation for timeless, sophisticated dressing, regularly choosing British designers while balancing high-end fashion with accessible high street pieces.

Luxury labels, including Alexander McQueen and Jenny Packham have become staples of her wardrobe, while carefully considered outfit choices often pay tribute to charities, communities and countries she visits.

More than a decade after joining the Royal Family, Catherine is now regarded as one of the world’s most influential royal dressers, with many of her outfits selling out within hours of appearing in public.